Princess Kate and her family have found sanctuary in their home Anmer Hall where she, Prince William and their children ‘will close off from the world and move on’ as she goes through cancer treatment.
People close to the Prince of Wales have said that the royal couple are now in the position of facing a situation where George, Charlotte and Louis’ mother’s health is now in the public sphere.
William has ‘undoubtedly’ drawn from his experiences of his mother Diana’s death when was just 15 to put him in the ‘protection mode’ he is now in, a friend of the prince’s told the Sunday Times.
The Waleses have pulled out of public duties after Kate, 42, said she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy in an emotional video message yesterday evening.
The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children will not be at next week’s traditional royal Easter Sunday service, which King Charles is hoping to attend, and instead focus their energies supporting each other.
Prince William and Princess Kate pictured with their three children Prince George (left), Princess Charlotte (right) and Prince Louis (centre) at Anmer Hall in Norfolk for their 2020 Christmas card
Princess Kate and her family have found sanctuary in their home Anmer Hall (pictured) where she, Prince William and their children ‘will close off from the world and move on’ as she goes through cancer treatment
Left to right, George, Louis and Charlotte enjoy baking fairy cakes for the Platinum Jubilee
A royal aide said that William just wants to ‘protect his wife and children’ during this difficult time, The Times reports.
They told the paper that the family want to get away over the Easter holidays, be together as a family unit of five and ‘close off from the world and move on’.
As they get away from the world at their home Anmer Hall, a Georgian country house which is part of the Sandringham Estate in the village of Anmer, Norfolk, they will focus on their family and not the royal institution or monarchy as a whole.
The royal aide said that they are not a corporation like Apple but just ‘two human beings’.
They added that Kate shared the news of her cancer diagnosis when she, William and their children felt comfortable to do so.
While the future king and queen feel the responsibility of their roles in the royal family, a close friend hopes that them getting away will be a good thing because of the warm reaction and support from the public.
They said the strength of the monarchy as an institution is that ‘this is a family with real human beings at its heart’.
This comes after the Princess of Wales touchingly revealed how she is reassuring her young children amid her battle with cancer after the announcement she is fighting the disease.
In her statement yesterday, she said that she and Prince William explained the situation to their children George, Charlotte and Louis, after the ‘huge shock’ of her diagnosis.
Princess Catherine said had told them she is doing ‘well and getting stronger every day’ and that she was ‘focusing on the things that will help me heal’.
The 42-year-old also revealed that she was comforted by having her husband by her side, and that they were doing ‘everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family’.
In a televised address, the future Queen revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer after undergoing a successful abdominal operation in January, and that doctors have advised her to undergo preventative chemotherapy.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to be ‘enormously touched’ and ‘extremely moved’ by the public’s warmth and support following Kate’s cancer announcement.
There has been a global outpouring of support, including from the King, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, political figures and members of the public.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said on Saturday: ‘The prince and princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness’ message.
‘They are extremely moved by the public’s warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time.’
Prince William, Princess Kate, pictured with Prince George, Prince Charlotte and a baby Prince George at Anmer Hall in December 2018
King Charles has always had a close bond with Kate, Princess of Wales (pictured atthe World premiere of the new film from the James Bond franchise ‘No Time To Die’)
Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer in February, is said to be proud of his ‘beloved’ daughter-in-law for her courage in speaking about her treatment and has remained in close contact during the past few weeks.
READ MORE: ‘I tell George, Charlotte and Louis, I am well and getting stronger every day’: Princess of Wales reveals how she reassures her young children that mummy will be ok amid her cancer battle
Words of support also came from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who said: ‘We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.’
The form of cancer has not been disclosed but the future Queen began a course of ‘preventative chemotherapy’ late in February, and is said to have a positive mindset for her recovery and is in good spirits, describing herself as ‘well and getting stronger every day’.
William and Kate have focused on their children, taking the time to sensitively share the state of the princess’s health with Prince George, Prince Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Well-wishers went to Windsor in Berkshire, on Saturday morning, including Linda Boby, from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, who said: ‘It’s such a shock, she’s such a young lady and she deserves her privacy.’
Political leaders of all sides have expressed sympathy and support for Kate and criticised what Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described as the ‘intense scrutiny’ she has faced from social media and sections of the media around the world.
Lord David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: ‘My thoughts go out to The Princess of Wales, The Prince of Wales and their three young children at this time.
‘The strength of the princess – speaking so frankly, with all the pressures of publicity and bringing up a young family – is remarkable and is rightly admired around the world.’
On Friday evening, hashtags including ‘WeLoveYouCatherine’ and ‘GetWellSoonCatherine’ were trending on X.
It is understood the video message, recorded on Wednesday in Windsor, was released on the day William and Kate’s three children began their Easter school holidays, to take advantage of the break to shield them from coverage of their mother’s health.
The announcement may end weeks of intense speculation and conspiracy theories on social media about the whereabouts and health of the future Queen.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were seen together last week as William went to the The Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey
King Charles III and Queen Camilla depart The London Clinic in central London where he had undergone prostate surgery on January 29
Rumours online about Kate intensified after William missed, at very short notice, the memorial service of his godfather the late King Constantine of Greece on February 27.
It is now understood the prince’s decision not to attend was related to his wife’s condition, but it is not known when the princess was told about the positive test for cancer.
Further speculation was triggered after the princess admitted to ‘editing’ her official Mother’s Day photograph which had irregularities.
A further development saw an investigation launched by the UK’s privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office, into allegations there were attempts to access Kate’s private medical records at the London Clinic where she had her surgery.
It is not known how long Kate will be receiving treatment but it is understood she may be keen to attend events as and when she feels able to, in line with medical advice, although this will not indicate a return to full-time duties.
William will continue to balance supporting his wife and family and maintaining his official duties as he has done since her operation.
The prince is due to return to public duties after his children return to school following the Easter break.